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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Biomaterials. 2012 Nov 3;34(4):864–874. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.10.032

Figure 8.

Figure 8

Scanning electron micrographs illustrating the toughening mechanisms during crack growth in human coronal dentin. (a) crack extension in inner dentin. The crack primarily extends from lumen to lumen as shown with the white arrows. Some degree of peritubular microcraking is also observed at the crack tip as outlined (white encircled area). (b) Micrograph showing the presence of ligaments bridging the crack in inner dentin (arrows). Notice that the majority of bridging involves bundles of tubules as evident at this lower magnification. (c) Microcracking of 2 the peritubular cuffs is prevalent in central dentin as shown in the highlighted region of the crack wake; (d) example of ligaments bridging the crack and microcracks observed during crack growth in outer dentin.